Growth In a Shrinking Market: The Rise of the Free Daily Newspaper

This paper charts the rise and growing success of free daily newspapers. It includes the success of Metro International, which started its first Metro title in Stockholm, Sweden in 1995, and now present in 17 countries with 55 different editions.

Growth In a Shrinking Market: The Rise of the Free Daily Newspaper

Piet Bakker

At the start of the new century, the phenomenon was still in full force with more than 40 free dailies being published in 19 countries. By May 2005, this number has increased to 81 titles in 29 countries translating into a total circulation that has more than doubled from 8 million to 19 million in the short span of five years.

The most spectacular growth is in Canada and the southern part of Europe: Spain, Italy, and France....

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